[1][2] Albert Kellogg was born in New Hartford, Connecticut, on December 6, 1813, the son of Isaac and Aurilla Barney, prosperous farmers with a long family history in New England.

After receiving a basic education in the local village schools, Kellogg was placed with a prominent physician in Middletown, Connecticut, in preparation for a medical career.

[1][3] Kellogg practiced medicine in Kentucky, Georgia, and Alabama, while taking every opportunity to explore the vegetation of the region and collect botanical specimens.

Kellogg was devoted to the organization from its beginning and served in various administrative roles including vice-president, librarian, curator, and museum director.

[5] At a meeting on 1 August 1853, Kellogg proposed "that we highly approve of the aid of females in every department of natural history, and that we earnestly invite their cooperation."

Kellogg was hired as botanist and surgeon by the United States Coast Survey for an expedition to Alaska in 1867, the year the territory was purchased.

[3][6] Kellogg wrote numerous papers on California plants and published them in the official Academy publications as well as local newspapers and magazines.